“Since I was a child, I’ve always thought there was something magical about to happen when three ones lined up on a clock,” Shanell said. “I used to close my eyes and make a wish. “

This time, after 20 minutes of wishing and pushing, she opened her eyes at 11:11 to a beautiful baby boy.

“He’s not only a blessing … he’s a magical blessing,” Shanell said as she and husband Derek cuddled their firstborn child amid a flurry of media attention Wednesday.

Despite the unique time and day of their son's birthday, the timing was pure coincidence. Shanell had been admitted to the hospital at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The couple laughed as they realized she was giving birth in Suite 11 on 1/11.

They never guessed that another coincidence was yet to come. But as the day wore on and her labor progressed slowly, speculation grew. She started pushing about 10:45 p.m. when she became fully dilated. At 11:10 p.m., she knew she was close.

After pushing two more times, she gave birth at 11:11 p.m., clinically documented in Sarasota Memorial’s electronic medical records, delivered by Wayne Cohen, MD. Both baby and mother are doing well. Dane weighed six pounds, one ounce.

“I guess I’m just lucky he wasn’t 11 pounds, 11 ounces,” Shanell said with a chuckle.